Hervey, LeBeau cheer on Patriots from sideline

Saturday

Jan 4, 2014 at 9:16 PMJan 5, 2014 at 2:17 PM

Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, Leigha Marie Hervey sat with her family in its season seats in section 111, keeping an eye on the field and the scoreboard, but watching the New England Patriots cheerleaders a little more closely. Hervey, who danced competitively for 15 years, tried out for the Patriots' cheerleading squad the year after she graduated from Wachusett Regional High School.

By Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, Leigha Marie Hervey sat with her family in its season seats in section 111, keeping an eye on the field and the scoreboard, but watching the New England Patriots cheerleaders a little more closely.

Hervey, who danced competitively for 15 years, tried out for the Patriots' cheerleading squad the year after she graduated from Wachusett Regional High School. She didn't make it past the preliminary round then, but last March — nine years after her initial tryout — Hervey gave it another go and, among a group of 300 other talented candidates, shined during the six-week audition to secure a spot on the 2013 Patriots cheerleading team.

"It's always something I wanted to do," said the 27-year-old Hervey, who grew up in Rutland and now lives in Holden. "I always have a goal I want to achieve, and that was my next goal. I said, 'I'll just try out one more time just to see if it will happen,' and it happened."

The Patriots, who host an AFC divisional playoff game Saturday night, have had a thrilling season, giving Hervey and her squad mates plenty to cheer about.

Hervey, a business owner, said the last few months have made for one of the best experiences of her life. Hannah LeBeau, 20, of Auburn, who is also a rookie Patriots cheerleader, couldn't agree more.

"It's so much fun," LeBeau said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Like Hervey, LeBeau, an Auburn High graduate who attends Dean College, has a strong dance background. She was a longtime competitor and was a member of the Boston Tap Company for three years. Performing the Patriots cheerleaders' dance routines and entertaining close to 70,000 people on Sundays comes pretty naturally.

"I don't really think about being in front of that many people until I get on the field," LeBeau said, "and I look up, and I see level after level of people cheering and having fun. It's the most exhilarating thing I've ever done."

That was even true in last Sunday's downpour, when the Patriots beat the Bills in the regular-season finale, and Hervey and LeBeau were drenched like everyone else in the stadium.

"It was really cold, and I know it sounds kind of crazy," LeBeau said, "but those are the games we live for. It just makes it that much more exciting looking at everyone in their ponchos in the pouring rain. It's like we're all going through it together."

The 24-member squad practices intensely for three hours every Tuesday and Thursday, LeBeau said, and the cheerleaders arrive at Gillette Stadium five hours before kickoff to practice and prepare their well-choreographed routines, which they perform at midfield pregame and on the sidelines and in the end zones during the game. From section 111, Hervey's family members give her a special wave when she walks onto the field.

The squad also takes part in numerous charitable, community and promotional events throughout the season.

"Some of the little kids you meet, they're so excited to see you, it's almost like you're Tom Brady," Hervey said. "It's nice to make someone happy just because I'm signing their T-shirt."

In November, Hervey and three other cheerleaders traveled to China to visit schools and help promote the NFL and the Patriots. Also this year, she participated in an event for Special Olympics and an American Red Cross blood drive. Last week, as part of the Cheer for Dana-Farber fundraising program, the Wachusett Regional cheerleaders performed with the Patriots' squad, which was also special for Hervey.

Hervey, who graduated from Mount Ida College in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in fashion design, owns Leigha Marie Designs, a line of custom-made swim and sportswear for fitness competitors. Three of her custom-designed bikinis are featured in the 2014 Patriots cheerleader calendar, which was shot in St. Lucia.

Hervey, herself a fitness competitor who was the 2011 Fitness America World Champion, Las Vegas, learned to sew from her mother and grandmother. During Hervey's competitive dance days, she would help her mother design and make her solo costumes. Designing clothes became her passion.

LeBeau, who has helped choreograph a number of student-run shows at Dean, is studying psychology. She would like to pursue a career as a counselor. She loves working with kids and has really enjoyed the Patriots junior cheerleader program.

"It's awesome getting to interact with the kids, and it's nice to know they're looking up to us and they might want to do what we do someday," LeBeau said.

Patriots cheerleaders can be on the squad for four years. Both LeBeau and Hervey said they plan to try out again in April.

On their way to 12 victories this year, the Patriots had a number of come-from-behind wins. One of the most exciting for LeBeau and Hervey was the 30-27 win over the Saints when Brady threw a touchdown pass to Kenbrell Thompkins with 5 seconds left. The cheerleaders were standing right near the corner of the end zone where Thompkins caught the ball.

"It was awesome, and we were going crazy," Hervey said. "We're all huge football fans."